On March 14, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced its decision to allow its contract with the Internet Corporation for Names and Numbers (ICANN) to expire. This removes the United State’s federal government oversight of the internet, particularly its “authority over the system of Web addresses and domain names.” The recent decision has arisen in part due the United States’ intelligence community, including the National Security Agency, growth in internet surveillance. The announcement is regarded by some as a move to strengthen the internet from global government intervention. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV stated that the announcement was “consistent with other efforts the U.S and our allies are making to promote a free and open internet.” However, in an opinion piece, Senator Marco Rubio expressed his concern about the transition period after the expiration of the contract. Rubio stated that the “vagueness of NTIA’s announcement and process must be replaced by certainty and a clear vision of the path forward.” The NTIA’s revelation also has worried many global businesses due to fear that the new system may damage the internet’s effectiveness.

Editor of the Witness.
Maraya is a senior majoring in Business Management and Political Science and minoring in Spanish. She is a member of Kappa Delta and involved in many ways on campus. She believes that writing is a wonderful way to communicate and express oneself to others.